NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Staten Island Chuck has spoken.
Video posted by the Staten Island Zoo on Tuesday morning showed the groundhog emerge from his burrow to predict an early spring.
Chuck's prediction was met with applause and cheers as Brian Gomez, of event sponsor Investors Bank, said "Spring is coming! Good news, Chuck!"
It was welcome news as the city digs out from more than a foot of snow that was dumped on the area during Monday's powerful winter storm. Although, there were no traces of snow visible on Chuck's nest in the video streamed by the zoo.
The annual Groundhog Day event was a virtual affair this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor Bill de Blasio joked that he was crushed that he couldn't attend the event in-person. In 2014, Chuck, actually a stand-in named Charlotte, died after being dropped by his honor. In 2009, Chuckb it then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg's finger.
Chuck has been right 10 out of the last 11 years so he's on a hot streak.
But his counterpart in Pennsylvania had a different forecast for 2021.
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, calling for six more weeks of winter.
On Long Island, Malverne Mel agreed with Chuck, also predicting an early spring.
Connecticut marked Groundhog Day with a hedgehog named Phoebe making the prediction after the state’s official groundhog died last year.
Like Phil, Phoebe predicted another six weeks of winter after seeing its shadow.
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